"Drawn on a U.S. bank"

English for beginners

[Morgenhund]

Hello people,

a funny linguistical question.

I want to select an appropriate payment
method for my retailer account.

The company states I can pay via a check
"drawn on a U.S. bank".

English is not my mother tongue, and it seems I cannot understand, what does they mean.

1. Must the check be issued by a US bank: like I have an account in a US bank and they give me check book.
2. Or does it mean there must be written on a check "this check is for NNN American bank", but then I do not understand something either, since checks are usually written not for a bank, but for a company/name the money are indended for.

What is your opinion?

[hannamyluv]

Yes, it means that the money must come out of a bank based in the US.

[peterdaly]

I think that means your check must be from a bank account in the US, or a bank based in the US.

[digitalv]

It means someone wrote all over the side of the bank with crayons. :)

Heh just kidding, the posts above mine got it right.

[Morgenhund]

Thank you guys, I've got it.

With crayons I think it is right, once I'll get into U.S. I'll do them a favor :) Which bank would you recommend?

[Leosghost]

This is a somewhat archaic usage of English
..which for some reason American institutions are more prone to do so than are their counterparts in England ..
One might also find this usage of the word in a phrase such as "She went to the well to draw water" ..

One also speaks of "drawing curtains" to close them ..and thus one may even speak of drawing the drawing of the drawing of the drawing of the drawing room curtains...etc ...ad infinitum.

...( which is to say the pulling or moving of the picture ( usually in monochromatic media ) of the pulling or moving of the picture of ( executed in the manner previously alluded to ) the act of representing by sketching ( again executed in the manner heretofore alluded to ) of the closing of the curtains of the room most commonly reserved for the use of "ladies" of the genteel classes to retire to after diner ( withdrawing ..removing from ..room )..

Strangely enough the usage you have come across is not present tense but past ...and is more usual in a phrase such as "The cart was drawn by two black horses" ( or one in the case of Lloyds ).

There is actually a case for saying that the past tense should follow the same course as for "show"( present tense ) ..the past tense of which is not shown ..but "shewn" ..but could also be the case in the future imperfect ...

< you are cordialy... invited to consider.. this thread ..at this point.. "bumped" :) >

[encyclo]

One thing you might want to try if you're outside the US - sometimes, local banks have cross-border agreements with others, so you might be able to get your local bank to organize a cheque for you if you request a banker's draft in US Dollars. This mostly applies to larger national banks. If not, there are US banks with overseas branches who should be able to provide a banker's draft, for a fee of course.

I see from your profile that you're in Germany - try Citibank, which has a presence there.

[Sunshyn]

It usually means that the bank the check comes from has to have an affiliate in the US. The reason for this is that banks such as the one we use estimate 3-4 months before a check clears when it has to go out of the country to do so, and the fees will be $20+. We're told we'll find out how much only after the 3-4 months since the fees are not directly from our bank but whoever they have handle the check.

If the bank the check comes from has an affiliated bank which is based in the US, our bank can deal directly with them so clearing takes a normal amount of time and expense.

[raywood]

Morgenhund, one more explanation. "Drawn on a US bank" means a check from a person or company that has an account with the US bank. The check has an account number on it that is for an account in the US bank.

The check requests the US bank to pay the money from the account to the person written on the check as the payee. In english the line usually says "Pay to the order of:".

When a company requests that you pay with a check drawn on a US bank, the check is processed entirely within the US banking system. No international transfers or delays or fees.

I don't know what you say in german when you take money out of your account. In english we say we go to the bank to "withdraw" money. Maybe that helps you understand the linguistic connotation.

[Morgenhund]

Thank you people, for your explanations.

Now I have one more question for true experts in English :)

What do you English-speaking people mean saying "your account is subject to a late charge of 1.5% (18% annum) on all past due invoices"?

Does it mean they will charge me 18% p.a. extra for all my invoices value? Or should it mean they will charge me for delayed payments, or percents on my credit line with them?

Thanks in advance.

[py9jmas]

In (British) English, we call it a cheque.

[encyclo]

your account is subject to a late charge of 1.5% (18% annum) on all past due invoices

It means that if your payment is late, the sum you owe will increase by 1.5% per month until you pay. If you pay on time, there is no penalty. The 18% is if you don't pay for a year - and if you're that late with the payment, the 18% is the least of your worries (because they will probably be suing you and getting you blacklisted!).